Privacy Policy

Privacy Statement

This web site is owned and operated by or on behalf of St. Christopher’s Inn, a ministry of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. We recognize that visitors to our site may be concerned about the information they provide to us and how we use that information. By visiting www.stchristophersinn.org, you accept the practices described in this statement. This Privacy Statement may be changed or updated at any time.

Notice of Privacy Practices

This privacy notice describes how HEALTH information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.

Your Rights:

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.

Get an electronic or paper copy of your clinical chart

You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your clinical chart and other health information we have about you. Ask us how to do this.

We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request.

We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for either of the above services.

Ask us to correct clinical information about you

You can ask us to correct health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete. Ask us how to do this.

We may say “no” to your request, but we’ll tell you why in writing within 60 days.

Request confidential communications

You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address.

We will say “yes” to all reasonable requests.

Ask us to limit what we use or share

You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations. We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say “no” if it would affect your care.

If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information for the purpose of payment or our operations with your health insurer. We will say “yes” unless a law requires us to share that information.

Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information

You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why.

We will include all the disclosures except for those about treatment, payment, and health care operations, and certain other disclosures (such as any you asked us to make). We’ll provide one accounting a year for free but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months.

Get a copy of this privacy notice

You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.

Choose someone to act for you

If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.

We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.

For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.

In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:

Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care

Share information in a disaster relief situation

“If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.”

Our Uses and Disclosures

How do we typically use or share your health information?

We typically use or share your health information in the following ways.

Treat or provide you with services

We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you.

“Example: If you are hospitalized, a doctor treating you for an injury can ask us about your overall mental condition.”

Run our organization

We can use and share your health information to run our clinic and programs, improve your care, and contact you when necessary.

“Example: We use health information about you to manage your mental health services.”

Bill for your services

We can use and share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.

Example: We give information about you to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your services.

How else can we use or share your health information?

We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html.

Help with public health and safety issues

We can share health information about you for certain situations such as:

Preventing disease

Helping with product recalls

Reporting adverse reactions to medications

Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence

Preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety

Do research

While we do not conduct any research, we may be asked to provide information to a governmental agency or share your information for health research purposes.

Comply with the law

We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law.

Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests

We can use or share health information about you:

For workers’ compensation claims

For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official

With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law

For special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services

Respond to lawsuits and legal actions

We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.

Our Responsibilities

We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.

We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.

We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.

We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request, on our web site, and we will mail a copy to you.

Our Online Visitors and Donors Policies

St. Christopher’s Inn uses its best efforts to respect and protect the privacy of our online visitors and donors. We will not share your personal information with any third parties. This includes name, address, financial information, and email address.

Data Collection:

Personal Information

We do not collect personally identifiable information from you unless you provide it to us voluntarily and knowingly. If you make a donation, register for an event or register for our newsletter, for example, we may collect your name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, and credit card information.

If you provide personal information, we may enter that information into our constituent database and contact you in order to:

Supply you with information, including St. Christopher’s Inn news, events and services

Request voluntary time or monetary contributions to St. Christopher’s Inn

We use high-grade encryption and security protocols (Secure Socket Layer-SSL) when processing financial transactions. This method is the industry standard security protocol, which makes it difficult for anyone to intercept the information you send us. Inside St. Christopher’s Inn, data is stored on password-protected servers. Our staff is educated about the importance of safeguarding your information. However, such precautions do not guarantee that our web site is invulnerable to all security breaks. St. Christopher’s Inn makes no warranty, guarantee or representation that the use of our web site is protected from viruses, security threats or other vulnerabilities and that your information will always be secure.

Standard web server traffic pattern information

General traffic, site usage and length of stay information is collected. This type of information is used to help St. Christopher’s Inn improve the functionality of our web site and such information is not linked to individual visitors.

External Links

Our Privacy Statement applies only to your use of the St. Christopher’s Inn web site. This site contains links to other sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these sites. Links to other sites do not imply an endorsement of the material or policies of those web sites. You should read the privacy policies of each site you visit to determine what information they may be collecting from you.

This Privacy Statement applies only to our online practices and does not encompass other areas of the organization. By accessing or using the web site, you agree to be bound by all terms and conditions of the St. Christopher’s Inn Privacy Statement as posted at the time of your access or use. If you have any questions about our policies or compliance, you may send an email to

SCIInfo@AtonementFriars.org or write to:

St. Christopher’s Inn

21 Franciscan Way

P.O. Box 150

Garrison, NY 10524

Thank you for visiting our site.

The nurses are the best part of my day.

The admission process was as fast and painless as it could be.

The medical staff is excellent, they treated me with love and care.

Overall the program and facility at St. Christopher’s Inn is the best, bar none.

Family program is PERFECT please don’t change a thing.

I took part in the GED program and was quite satisfied. I haven’t taken the test yet, but I have very high hopes of passing.

Gained immense knowledge from lectures and treatment plan.

It is very spiritual and I needed the experience.

The care and concern by my counselor and supporting staff shows the love that I didn’t know existed.

Staff is unbelievable, saved my life.

The goals I have reached and the new ones I’ve developed while being here are something of a life changer for me in my future.

I was pleasantly surprised by the existence of the Coffee House. Music is a central and meditative part of my life. The ability to perform for my new brothers here and the staff was unexpected and made this an incredible journey.

I would have nothing if it wasn’t for SCI.

Great people, caring and responsive.

I would like to tell you how thankful I am to you for having this family program available. I want to say thank you for giving me exactly what I needed.

The experience of being here and becoming a member of the Brothers Christopher fraternity has changed my life. Being in the Friars house was a blessing. Their generosity gave me knowledge I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Thank you for the privilege I was given to stay here in your house. God bless you all. I will always keep a piece of St. Christopher’s Inn in my heart.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the hot meals, warm bed and unconditional love you so easily gave to me. I know if it were not for you, I would truly still be a lost soul.

The road to recovery is called Franciscan Way, and the door to happiness lies within the walls of St. Christopher’s Inn.

I never thought someone could care for a drug addict like me. You have shown me that I am worth something. May God bless you a million times.

Thank you for welcoming me in to your home, and granting me a scholarship for treatment. There’s not enough “thank-yous” I could say, so I’m going to show you by staying clean and living a peaceful sober life.

I want to thank you for everything—from my stay here to working in the Thrift Shop. I am so grateful for St. Christopher’s Inn and every staff member that represents this fantastic organization.

I was amazed by the unbelievable generosity of everyone at our Christmas party. A nice scarf and a collared shirt—I have been through hundreds in my life but I have never cared for any of them as I do for these. Thank you for giving me the best Christmas in many, many years.

I love this place. They have given me a place to sleep, food in my stomach, clothes on my back, and a chance at a first-class life. Recovery is here . . . all you have to do is want it!

Today, I am a sober man. I live an honest and simple life. I’m a reliable, employable productive member of society. I have dignity and self-worth and even self-love. All of these things are a direct result of the care and guidance given to me by the Friars and the staff at St. Christopher’s Inn. Some people call it a homeless shelter. I call it home.